Computer implementation of Heuver circle method for thermal optimisation in castings

A method based on geometric reasoning techniques is
presented to predict hot spots and use of geometric
parameters of a casting to obtain effective interface
boundary conditions. The proposed method combines
Chvorinov’s rule and Heuvers’ circle method with the
medial axis transformation technique to develop an
elegant optimisation technique for the optimal feeding
design of castings. The results are validated using a FE
based solidification analysis. It has been shown that the
method has the ability to constrain heat transfer
coefficient values to yield more realistic predictions
for foundry practices. The proposed method has a
considerable potential to reduce the number of FE
simulations that are otherwise needed to achieve an
optimal thermal design.